Post by bridgeline on Apr 4, 2023 12:11:16 GMT -5
30+ years ago I ordered 3 Tiger Valley Alcos with D&H details along with a good quantity of seperate detail parts above what was included in the kits. I have been compulsively been buying more kits when I run across them and have no real reason why. Just strike my fancy I guess.
After the shipment arrived, I was stalled when developing a plan for window glass in the cab. First, I thought I would swap the cabs out for Atlas cabs, even going so far as to purchase a big handful of cabs at Syracuse a few years after. Once the cabs were compared, it became obvious that this wasn't a good plan. The smooth texture of the cabs would really contrast with the as-cast surfaces of the bodies. Next I thought about having the inside of the cabs milled to allow glass microscope slips to be used. All the local job shops turned up their noses at the prospect of detailed hand controlled milling with little prospect of profit since the labor would quickly outpace the cost of the models. Tried cutting some aceate windows sort of like the offerings available from HI-TECH years ago and even sanded some down from plexi. All failures on my part, some due to my lack of patience and some due to the imperfections common to the Tiger Valley castings.
So now many years in, it is time to get off the pot as they say. I decided that I should start building these kits as intended with their 1950's technilogical faults and lack of details in certain areas. So they will be built as Guil intended. Now to hone my skills at removing casting flash and finding a process to metal etch these old castings.
After the shipment arrived, I was stalled when developing a plan for window glass in the cab. First, I thought I would swap the cabs out for Atlas cabs, even going so far as to purchase a big handful of cabs at Syracuse a few years after. Once the cabs were compared, it became obvious that this wasn't a good plan. The smooth texture of the cabs would really contrast with the as-cast surfaces of the bodies. Next I thought about having the inside of the cabs milled to allow glass microscope slips to be used. All the local job shops turned up their noses at the prospect of detailed hand controlled milling with little prospect of profit since the labor would quickly outpace the cost of the models. Tried cutting some aceate windows sort of like the offerings available from HI-TECH years ago and even sanded some down from plexi. All failures on my part, some due to my lack of patience and some due to the imperfections common to the Tiger Valley castings.
So now many years in, it is time to get off the pot as they say. I decided that I should start building these kits as intended with their 1950's technilogical faults and lack of details in certain areas. So they will be built as Guil intended. Now to hone my skills at removing casting flash and finding a process to metal etch these old castings.
